A long way from home, Lexi Wang tucked a loose strand of hair behind her hair as her mother pulled their car into the drive way. Her father had gotten a new job in the city and he thought it best to have the family with him. With that, their former house was sold, things were packed and she and her older brother found themselves in West town to start a new life.
West town was nothing like quiet old Greenville. Day time was filled with people moving in and out of work. The lunch hour thrived with waiters and stewards attending to teachers, middle aged clerks, business men and a handful of happy go lucky youths. Color burst through everything and there was a splash of life from here to there.
The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm golden hue over the quaint house they now lived in. Lexi Wang adjusted the rearview mirror of her mom's old SUV, taking in the cozy houses lined with white picket fences, each one adorned with blooming flowers. This was it—a fresh start after her family's abrupt move from the city, and she felt a mix of excitement and apprehension as they stepped out of the car and went into their new home.
"Welcome to your new sanctuary!" her mom exclaimed, trying to infuse enthusiasm into the moment. Lexi offered a weak smile, still feeling out of place as she stepped out of the vehicle. The familiar weight of uncertainty pressed against her chest like a snug sweater.
"Let's get unpacked," her mom said, grabbing a box from the back seat, oblivious to Lexi's internal turmoil. She watched her mother bustle about, making their new house feel like home, while Lexi's mind raced with thoughts of her first day at Maplewood High the following morning.
After a long evening of unpacking, Lexi finally retreated to her new room. It was small but cute, with pale blue walls and a window that overlooked the backyard. She sat on her bed, the scent of fresh paint and cardboard still lingering in the air, and pulled out her phone. Scrolling through her contacts, she hesitated before texting her best friend from back home. *Wish me luck at the new school tomorrow.*
As she settled in for the night, Lexi couldn't shake the nagging fear of walking into a place where everyone knew each other. The thought of being the new girl, the outsider, made her stomach churn. Deep breaths, she told herself. It's just a school.
The next morning, Lexi woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside her window. After a quick breakfast and a pep talk in the mirror, she slipped into her favorite blue sweater and jeans, hoping to blend in a little. With her backpack slung over her shoulder, she stepped outside, ready to face the day.
The high school loomed ahead—a sprawling building with red brick walls and a bustling courtyard full of students. Lexi took a deep breath and walked through the front doors. The noise was overwhelming; laughter and chatter resonated through the halls, each corner buzzing with energy.
As she navigated the crowded hallways, she searched for the first-period classroom, glancing at her schedule. But with students jostling for space, she found herself overwhelmed and lost in the chaos.
"Hey, new girl!" a voice called out. Lexi turned to see a girl with bright pink hair and a cheerful smile striding towards her. "I'm Mia. Looks like you're lost! Need any help?"
"Uh, yeah, I'm Lexi. I'm looking for room 204?" she replied, grateful for the unexpected kindness.
"Follow me! That's my home room too.
The classroom door swung open, and Lexi stepped inside, her heart racing. The room was filled with colorful posters of literary quotes and a bookshelf loaded with novels. In the front, a tall figure stood, writing on the whiteboard.
"Whose that?" Lexi whispered
" I have no idea" she answered as she made her way to her seat.
Unpacking her notes, she took a good look at Mia to see the girl had a wonderful shade of brown irises well fitted for her siren eyes. Her hair fell in waves of red, an obvious dye but it did well to complement her pale almost blood drained skin. She wondered why she hadn't noticed that immediately they met. To ignore such beauty. Mia's long and elegant fingers were adorned with silver rings. Lexi watched her trace her fingers on a journal fully bewitched by the sharpness of even her nails which were polished in a neutral pink colour.
"Have you read Othello?" Mia asked
"Not yet. Do I have to?"
"Yes silly. We would start on it next week with the new transfer teacher. Mr. Doyle's wife called in to report Mr. Doyle's terrible health a month ago and literature class has not been thesame ever since. We have teachers filling in for him from the lower classes but having an unstable teacher format isn't quite ideal. Luckily for us, the main school sent us a transfer teacher" she giggled in excitement
"Class, settle down. I hope you're all ready for an exciting semester," the teacher said, turning to face them.
Lexi's breath caught in her throat. The semester was officially open and she hoped to Keep her grades up just like in her previous school. Maplewood had a wicked reputation for cutting off slackers and she had no plans to be suspended,repeated or removed. With that, she focused on the teacher who had already scribbled a few math sums on the board.
An hour later, the bell rang to announce the end of the period.
"Well wasn't that a bore" Mia swore with half her breath in her throat
"I don't know. I thought it was quite alright" Lexi said as she picked out the books for the next class.
"Don't be such a stick up. Relax. It's just math. We did this before the summer break. It should be as easy as taking candy from a baby" Mia smiled
"Why would a baby need candy in the first place?"
"Exactly!!"
Lexi had found solace in Mia as she giggled at the girl's attitude towards school. As they walked out together after school,Mia nudged her. "You're going to love it here, Lexi. And wait until you see what kind of projects Mr. Hayes has planned!"
"Who is Mr. Hayes?"
"The transfer teacher. I wonder what he is like. But I do know he is serious since he has already sent us his syllabus for further reading. It's going to be a wicked class. " A glint of mischief sparkled in her brown eyes. "see you tomorrow Lex. Hope you have a jolly good time in our city. I'll text you"
Lexi smiled, her earlier fears beginning to dissipate. Perhaps West town wasn't just a new beginning; it could be the adventure she'd been looking for.